5 luscious soft goat cheese appetizers

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Easy-to-make one-bite appetizers are the epitome of savoury goodness. Prepare them ahead of time and they'll sit conveniently in the refrigerator until guests arrive. The coating of nuts over the creamy cheese will keep your guests' hands clean as they mingle.

Good-quality cheese pairs with nuts and dried fruit in this classic hors d'oeuvre. The only trick to this easy terrine is to gently mix the blue and goat cheeses just until combined. You can use any blue-veined cheese, even if it's a softer, creamy cheese, such as Gorgonzola. Just make sure it's cold, and gently pull it apart instead of crumbling it.

This sweet, creamy spread is a tasty alternative to a log of plain goat cheese on a cheese plate. If you have any left over (doubtful!), it makes an excellent sandwich spread. Serve with sliced Granny Smith apples, crackers or vegetable sticks.

Serve these warm and creamy crostinis as an appetizer or with a lemony salad to make the perfect light lunch. To save time, you can bake the bread ahead and store it in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.